Night Kill (Private Investigator Andrew Knight Mystery Series) (27 page)

“I never realized that,” Eric answered, wide-eyed.

“We will take him into custody,” Yuri further said. “You are to remain on the train until after everyone is questioned.”

“What happened?” Eric asked.

“Two people were found dead in the baggage car by a Porter,” Yuri explained. He looked down at Andrew. “I suspect that this man was also involved somehow.”

“I need to let my boss know that I will be delayed,” Eric said. “May I text her?”

“By all means,” Yuri answered. “Then I would ask you to move to the passenger cars so that we may question you and the others further.”

“Alright,” Eric replied. He took out his phone as Yuri radioed for assistance.

Blackness. There was nothing but the sound of her breathing. Was there anyone there beyond the dark? Was she all alone? No way to measure time.

Darkness. There was nothing but the sound of her gentle breathing. The last images burned in her mind were of Andrew lying on the ground. Was he still alive?

Abyss. The sound of her breathing grew more labored. Panic had taken over and she felt wetness in the corner of her eyes. Where was she?

Nightshade. Her breathing was grew faster and faster. She couldn’t catch her breath. Her arms and legs were bound with rope. Was any one there?

Ebony. This time there were new sounds. A key being turned in a lock and a heavy sounding door opening. Footsteps drew near with an air of purpose. The door closed. The footsteps stopped. She was not alone.

Nothingness. Her breathing had slowed down. She listened to see what the other person was doing. They were not moving. Were they looking her over? Were they toying with her by remaining silent? She tried to speak but her mouth was bound with tape. Why were they not speaking?

Bleakness. Her breathing was calmer now. She strained to hear what was going on.

“Welcome home, Raven Blade,” an all too familiar woman’s voice spoke from the dark. Suddenly, the darkness had withdrawn and firelight strained her eyes. The tape was stripped from her mouth and the tingling felt like a thousand needles striking at once.

“I no longer go by that name,” Talia replied.

“To me you will always be Raven Blade,” the woman answered. Her hair was black and streaked with stokes of silver gray. The black dress she wore was long and flowing. Flesh, the color of alabaster, peaked out from beneath the accentuated v-neck. “But you have betrayed us to the outsiders.”

“What I did in the name of good was wrong, Anastasia,” Talia answered.

“We purge the world of evil,” Anastasia calmly replied. “As you recall it all started with my great-great grandfather, Abraham VanHelsing.”

“Andrew will come,” Talia suddenly announced defiantly.

“We know,” Anastasia replied. “He won’t last much longer. He is no match for us.”

“He will come,” Talia repeated.

“He will die!” Anastasia answered bluntly.

“Where is Kara?” Talia demanded.

“She is safe,” Anastasia replied. Her phone buzzed. She took it out of her pocket and saw that there was a text message. She smiled and glanced in Talia’s direction. “I just received a text message from Gold Blade.”

“What is it?” Talia asked.

“He just texted me that Andrew Knight has been arrested by the Zwickau police.” Anastasia had a wide grin of satisfaction on her face. “It looks like your so called hero is out of action and won’t be coming to rescue you or Kara.” She texted Gold Blade that she would send a helicopter to pick him up and that she needed his location. Anastasia waited for a reply. He texted his location and that he would be ready. She walked over to the door and opened it. Two knights entered the room and loosened Talia from the chair. They each grabbed her by the arm and escorted Talia out of the room.

Kara bolted straight up. She scanned the room with wild-eyed confusion. Where was she? The room had one single window, no furniture save for a simple desk and chair, along with the bed she was lying on.

The last thing Kara saw was Nick being attacked. She didn’t even know if he were still alive. Kara started to cry, but she quickly scolded herself for being a wimp and stopped. She also realized she was no longer wearing her dress. Someone had changed her into a black jumpsuit and shoes. Kara bounded off the bed and over to the door. She tried the handle, it was locked. She went over to the window. It was tall and narrow without any way to open it. Kara was trapped.

Eric had changed into his knight’s garb and was just strapping on his weaponry. Andrew was still unconscious and had been moved to the bed. Eric heard the helicopter in the distance. He pulled the door open quickly and knocked out the solitary officer standing guard over him and Andrew. He grabbed both suitcases and headed for the exit. He never intended to go to the passenger’s cars as ordered. Eric had to get to Gothica at all costs. He set one case down and opened the door. Eric propped the door open and retrieved the case. He quickly descended the steps and ran towards the open field not far from the train.

Captain Brewster was interviewing a male passenger on the train when he heard what sounded like a helicopter. He stopped to peer out one of the windows. There in the distance was a black helicopter preparing for a landing in the field not far from the train. Yuri was about to turn his attention back to the investigation, but something else caught his eye. There, not far from the train, he saw someone in a Knight’s of VanHelsing uniform running while carrying a suitcase in both hands. Yuri grabbed his walkie and called for the officer standing guard at that location. There was no reply. Yuri immediately started screaming in it for some of his men to stop the person.

Eric felt the rush of the wind from the helicopter blades as he approached it. The door slid open and one of his compatriots in full gear, reached out to give him a hand. Eric tossed up one of the suitcases.

Yuri and several of his men took off in pursuit of Eric. They bounded over the rails and quickly rushed towards the helicopter. Yuri saw the door slide open and someone reach out towards Eric. Yuri drew his gun and fired off several shots.

Eric froze as the dinging of bullets struck the helicopter. They were shooting at him! He tossed in the last suitcase inside and reached for the crossbow. Eric loaded an arrow and fired!

Yuri felt a pressure in his thigh and he tumbled down in the grassy mud. He rolled over and saw the arrow shaft buried in the flesh of his leg. He managed to pull himself up on one foot and fired until his gun was empty.

Eric jumped inside as another volley of shots struck frighteningly close; too close as far as he was concerned.

“Take off now!” Eric barked as he loaded another arrow. He fired again.

Yuri was knocked to the ground from the forced of the arrow as it slammed him in the right shoulder. His gun flew out of his hand and seconds later, landed some distance away from him. He screamed at his men to keep firing, but it had no affect. Yuri watched helplessly as the helicopter disappeared from sight. His men helped Yuri to his feet and helped him back to the train. Yuri grimaced in pain as he hobbled along back to the train.

The glowing red sun was slowly disappearing on the distant horizon as the sound of metal whirling blades filled the still air of the valley. It would be dark soon, and time for Gold Blade to finally come home again.

Gothica castle had been forged out of the very mountains of the Ore Mountain range. With its towering, impenetrable walls, no one dared attempt to challenge it. It stood solitary, forbidding to all who dared enter the valley long forgotten by both man and time.

Kara watched from the window as the helicopter touched down. The door slid open and a solitary figure jumped out. Whoever they were, the person was in full knight’s garb right down to the weapons. The person strode with an air of confidence towards the woman that was waiting for them. Her hair was black and streaked with stokes of silver gray. The black dress she wore was long and flowing. Kara thought for a second and snapped her fingers as she remembered. Of course, the woman was Anastasia VanHelsing, the leader of the Knights of VanHelsing. Kara watched them embrace and soon after, walked together arm in arm inside the castle.

Talia had been staring out the narrow window of her room ever since she was taken there after her interrogation by Anastasia. She was reflecting on the cards life had dealt her. Some were good cards worth holding onto. Others were not so good and Talia wished she could have traded them in for better ones. Talia grew tried and was about to step away from the window, when she saw a helicopter approach the castle. She watched the helicopter land. The side door of the helicopter slid. Talia’s blood ran cold at the sight of a Knight of VanHelsing. Talia also saw Anastasia waiting to greet them.

Gold Blade and Anastasia walked down the long stone hallway and finally stopped at a large metal and wooden door. Anastasia twisted the knob and gave the door a gentle push to open it. She led the way inside and Gold Blade followed. Anastasia closed the door behind them. She locked it.

Anastasia walked over and sat down on the canopy bed. She stretched out her arms invitingly for Gold Blade to join her. He walked over but stopped just short of her reach.

“Please remove your hood,” Anastasia asked.

“Both Silver Blade and Bronze Blade are dead,” Gold Blade sadly informed her.

“How?” Anastasia demanded.

“Silver Blade was killed in the park and Bronze Blade was in a fight with Andrew Knight and some policeman from Berlin,” Eric answered.

“You removed all of their identification, right?” Anastasia asked.

“I know the drill,” Eric shot back.

“At least we have the others,” Anastasia answered instead. ‘And Knight is out of the picture. He will be in a German prison for quite some time.” Anastasia laughed.

“Where are the women?” Gold Blade inquired.

“Safe on the third floor in two of the empty guest rooms,” Anastasia answered.

“Now forget about all that and take off your hood,” Anastasia ordered.

“We both know the rules,” Gold Blade reminded. “Our identity is to remain a secret.” He gestured around the room. “Even within the walls of Gothica, a knight’s face is never to be revealed.”

“I know the laws.” Anastasia was getting upset.

“I will not remove it.” Gold Blade was defiant.

“But we were lovers once and you showed me your face.” Anastasia pouted. “Why not again?” She rose from the bed and walked over to Gold Blade. She slipped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. “Perhaps we could rekindle the passion we once had.” Anastasia drew her glance upon his hooded face. “What happened that night is in the past.”

“Not that far in the past,” Gold Blade grabbed her arms and slipped from her embrace.

“He meant nothing to me,” Anastasia eyes swelled with tears.

“Nothing?” Gold Blade scoffed.

“Do not get upset, Eric,” Anastasia finally said his name. “Please remove your weapons and place them on the table.” Anastasia gestured towards the table not far from the bed. Eric went over and removed his belt. He laid it on the table. Next, he took off the scabbards that held his swords. He laid them also on the table. Then he took off his long leather coat and gently draped it across his things. Eric walked back over to Anastasia.

“Listen Ana.” Eric took hold of her hands.

“You haven’t called me that name in years.” Ana started to cry again. Eric took her in his arms. It was a rhapsody for Ana to final feel Eric’s embrace. “Why now?” Eric lifted the hood just a little. Ana exhaled deeply and her bossom quivered as Eric brushed his lips against the flesh of her neck.

“I’m not the same man as I was before,” Eric whispered. Ana felt a chill from the warmth of his breath.

“What do you mean?” Ana broke free to face him.

Gold Blade finally removed his hood for Ana.

“You!” shrieked Ana. She gave Andrew a shove and ran for the door.

Andrew took off after Ana and reached her as she was about to unlock the door. Andrew grabbed Ana and tossed her aside. Ana rebounded and slammed Andrew with a kick to the chest, but it had no affect because of the body armor he wore. Andrew countered with a spin kick that struck Ana in the midriff. She doubled over and Andrew finished her off with another blow to the head. Ana crumpled to the floor and was out cold. Andrew walked over to the door to make sure it was still locked; it was. Andrew walked over and scooped Ana up into his arms and he carried her over to the bed. He gently laid her down.

Andrew sat next to her and reflected on recent events. Andrew knew that Hannah was not alone on the train. She had to have a backup. So when Andrew left the baggage car he searched for her partner. It was either by luck or whatever, but Andrew located him in the first sleeping cabin he tried. Andrew chuckled as he remembered the shocked look on Eric’s face when he opened the door of the compartment to see Andrew standing there and not Hannah. Even before Eric could react, Andrew knocked him out and pushed him back inside. The idea to switch identities just came to Andrew as he was searching the compartment. Andrew had taken both their passports and with his pocket knife carefully slit open the lamination. Once he had switched their photos, Andrew used a bit of superglue he had found in a drawer in the compartment. When the police arrived, Andrew waited for the right moment to step out of the compartment and put on his act. He knew at first that Captain Brewster was suspicious of him, but when he saw the passports all of that disappeared. In order to convince those at Gothica, Andrew sent the text message. He knew it would be the only way to convince them that he, Andrew, was out of the picture even if only for a little while. Hopefully, and it was, long enough to get inside the castle. Also, Andrew had to conceal his identity, and betting on the fact that none of the other knight’s had seen each others faces, Andrew dressed in the knight’s garb. Andrew felt bad that he had to shoot Captain Brewster, but it was necessary to convince the ones in the helicopter that he was in fact Gold Blade.